atma

One devotee from Venezuela, Havi Das, has very nice songs in Spanish and he is very famous in his country. TK has this nice Gaura Arati in English in a very melodious tune. I enjoy the songs of different devotees but I won't change the bhajans at the temple. The Sanskrit and Bengali are very sweet to hear and chant. Hey Mahak, I like Loreena McKennett too. I don't like some devotees who try to imitate rock-and-roll and come out with a very poor version of it. In Vrindavan you hear all over the place the famous Hindi film songs but with devotional lyrics and they have a very catchy tune. Without thinking you catch yourself singing along with the song. Radhe Radhe rato chale ayenge Bihari! Chant Radha Radha and Bihari will come to you!

For the last 10 days in the temple here, the devotees had been reading from Chaitanya Charitamrita about the pastimes of Sri Mahaprabhu in Puri and Ratha Yatra. Yesterday, a visiting sannyasi read a little bit and then started his class about how abominable sex life is and he was very graphic about it giving examples from animals and other things. I was really upset because I knew that one of my daughters was listening to the class. Normally I won't object to this kind of preaching if it was a class for brahmacharis but not for women and children present. The point that I want to make here and I hope that I won't be misunderstood is that, very few people can be celibate, most of the population are or will get married. If we stress all the negative aspects of sex life it will be very difficult for a couple to be successful in their marriage. Because I have daughters I'm concerned about their marriage. Hopefully they'll get married to devotees and even if they do so what are the chances that their husbands will be saints and have sex only for procreation? Now if from a tender age, in the Srimad Bhagavatam class, the kids are hearing about how abominable sex life is, what is going to happen when they discover that they have desires or that their husbands want sex more than only for procreation? It is going to be hell for both of them. This morning I met a lady who has been married for 25 years and has been very faithful to her husband. She was telling me that he wants to take another wife, he already proposed to another woman, because he wants babies(read sex). No wonder that the man wants somebody else because for many years nothing is happening with the wife since she is strict in her vows. But this marriage is going down the drain. During lunch a gurukuli from Mayapur told me that a famous senior devotee just informed his family that he took another woman because she needs shelter (read sex again). The wife and kids (like 6 of them) are really upset with him but they are tolerating because well, what to do? And these guys are in their 50s. Maybe I'm not expressing myself properly and I want to make it very clear that I'm not propagating free sex or something like that. I believe in monogamous relationships and sex within the marriage but it is really difficult to control the senses even within the couples and if the women think that it is a terrible sin for their husbands to want sex and they don't allow it then the men will go somewhere else for it. I know shastra and what the sadhus and gurus say about it but we have to be practical here and see why most of the marriages fail in our society. I gave the example of this 2 guys because I just heard about them but sometimes it is the other way around. Any comments?

Sitting behind a couple of nuns at the football game, three men decided to badger the nuns in an effort to get them to move. In a very loud voice, the first guy said, "I think I'm going to Utah, there are only 100 Catholics living there...." The second guy spoke up and said, " I want to go to Montana, there are only 50 Catholics living there..." The third guy spoke up and said, "I want to go to Idaho, there are only 25 Catholics living there...." One of the nuns turned around, and looked at the men and calmly said, "Why don't you go to hell, there aren't any Catholics there."

I saw it too and I agree that it's a waste of money. My daughters warned me, the little one said that was 'cheesy' and the big one said that has a "crappy ending" but that I would laugh. I did laugh and the guy to my right too. He was an average white guy who was moving a lot (I guess that he didn't like the movie that much). The girl to my left was into her boyfriend and I don't think that she paid any attention to the movie. Sometimes I think how much money and time I waste going to the movies but still going. Maya is there.So much for trying to be serious and don't have any more lives. Yesterday, a devotee astrologer was telling me about how significant are the circunstances were you born. He thinks that he is a fighter because he born in a military base. My mother almost had me in a movie theater. Her water bag broke in the middle of a movie and they had to rushed her to the Nursing Home. [This message has been edited by atma (edited 07-30-2001).]

Over here they have Jhulan morning and evening. I love the festival too. Monday started swinging Rukmini Dwarkanath, what a nice way to start the week. This month is full of festivals. Today Ekadasi and Jhulan for 5 days. Friday Lord Balaram appereance's day. Sunday is Ratha Yatra. Sunday next, Janmastami and the day after Vyasa Puja. Two weeks later Radhastami....Fasting and feasting.

Thank you MC, that passage made my morning. Over here, their Lorships are in the Yauvanan lila, after Snana Yatra. Every morning after Guru Puja the devotees sing: JAGANNATHA SWAMI NAYANA PATHA GAMI BHAVATU ME. They are also reading from Chaitanya Charitamrita about the Ratha Yatra pastimes. Today was how the Bengali devotees arrived in Puri to see the Lord and how He sent so much maha-prasadam for them Very, very enlivening.

Cute...neat how it works... DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST! It only takes about a minute..... 1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (try for more than once but less than 10) 2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold) 3. Add 5 (for Sunday) 4. Multiply it by 50 (being a bit stupid) I'll wait while you get the calculator...... 5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1751...... If you haven't, add 1750.... 6. Now substract the 4 digit year that you were born (if you remember) You should have a three digit number. The first digit of this was your original number (i.e, how many times you want to have chocolate each week) The next two numbers are your age. IMPRESSIVE ISN'T IT?

I'm very ignorant in all this terms . Good that you're OK now. I agree 100% that it's time to get serious and go to loving Krsna. Back or not it doesn't matter to me. Just lets get out of here. No more lives in this material world. I like that: "playing pretend that my suffering is bliss". So true.

Maitreya: I did not get how from popping a blister in your big toe you got a case of cellulitis??? Most women suffer from cellulitis and they don't finish in the ER. Something wrong somewhere? [This message has been edited by atma (edited 07-24-2001).]

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3, Ch.3, text6: Translation: Narakasura, the son of Dharitri, the earth, tried to grasp the whole sky, and for this he was killed by the Lord in a fight. His mother then prayed to the Lord. This led to the return of the kingdom to the son of Narakasura, and thus the Lord entered the house of the demon. Purport: It is said in other Puranas that Narakasura was the son of Dharitri, the earth, by the Lord Himself. But he became a demon due to the bad association of Bana, another demon. An atheist is called a demon, and it is a fact that even a person born of good parents can turn into a demon by bad association. Birth is not always the criterion of goodness; unless and until one is trained in the culture of good association, one cannnot become good.

Animesh ji: From my own experience, I can say that in most of the cases the differences are inherent. I grew up with 3 elder brothers, surrounded by guns, cars,marbles,and all kind of toys for boys and never had any interest in playing with them. Sometimes I did it to please one boring brother but for me it was all the way dolls, dresses, little kitchens, etc. And boy, how I was protected by my brothers. I wasn't allowed to go to any party unless one of them was there with me. No question of doing anything wrong. For my elder sister was the same. If my elder brother saw her just talking to a boy he didn't mind to bring her home pulling her hair (my brother was a little bit barbaric). With my own daughters the same with toys. I bought them cars and other boyish toys but they spent hours playing with dolls and creating all kind of stories with them. Hundreds of hair styles, different dresses and make up. No interest at all in another kind of toys. And they don't like violent action games either. I read an article how testosterone make the big physical and psichological difference between the sexes. I'll try to find it and post it.

For what I understand, during the 2 big wars, women were forced to come out of the house and started working (is not like that were not working at home). This reminds me of what Arjuna said in the B.Gita Chapter 1, texts 37 to 43: Translation: O Janardana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one's family or quarrelling with friends, why should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin? With the destruction of dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion. When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krsna, the women of the family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vrishni, comes unwanted progeny. An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and water are entirely stopped. By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated. O Krsna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succesion that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell. End of translation. The main difference between men and women is testosterone. That's why men are more agressive and we have different kinds of behaviour. We also have that in the past men used to married the women if she got pregnant before marriage. Now they don't. Moral and religious values are in decline because churches are in decline. Irresponsible behaviour from both sides creates so much confusion. The women are not protected by anyone and because we are more emotional, easily get attached to anyone that seems a little kind and give the body to that man. The man is irresponsible and there we have unwanted progeny. From there you go for abortion, give the baby in adoption or have the kid and suffer stigma and poverty. The goverment aid is not the best solution but without moral values is the lesser of the devils. Do not think that the goverment gives a lot, they don't. People in welfare still are poor. The solution is to be Krsna consciousness, but that is so far away. Look at our own society. So many divorces, single mothers and fathers. Unwanted children all over the place. Control of the senses is the way but how many can do it? Kali Yuga is reigning and we don't have a Maharaja Parikshit as a king and brahmanas as advisors. It is a big mess. Just rumbling a little bit.

I need some tips about hotels in San Francisco. The gurukulis here are recommending hotels that for the description are worst than the hotels in Pahar Ganj in Delhi. E-mail me to: atmavidya108@. Thank you. Atma.

Animesh ji: Thank you for recommending the books. I'll try to get them. Atma.

Just a little story about the fetus having consciousness. When I was pregnant with my first baby sometimes my husband used to read Bhagavad Gita aloud for me and the baby's sake. One evening in the middle of reading, he said: "Govinda or Radha (those were the names for the baby), if you're listening, kick your mother". Radhika gave me such a kick that he even saw my stomach moving where she kicked! I was in my 7th or 8th month. I read all the Ramayan for that baby and in the end are blessings for pregnants women to have babies who will be devotees of the Lord. From very early Radhika has been a devotee of Lord Rama. The seeds are planted now is up to them to develop their Krsna consciousness. How sad is to see pregnant women smoking, eating meat or spicy food, drinking, having sex, etc. After you read that chapter of the Bhagavatam you want the best for the baby and will do anything to protect the fetus. Actually, even without reading the Bhagavatam, just common sense is needed.

I saw it and I like it too. I didn't fall sleep. The hall was packed. It was very amusing that the people clapped at the end because still was for a 'bad'guy. I guess people apreciate loyalty.

Sorry if I didn't explain myself better. I wanted to say that if you start from text 1 of that chapter and continue reading you'll get the information. I put text 10 because somebody was asking about the conciousness of the soul. Bhagavatam explains that in the 7th month after conception conciousness develops.

Please read: Srimad Bhagavatam, chapter 31: "Lord Kapila's Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities". From text 1 explains about the soul entering a particular type of body. Text 10: Translation: "Thus endowed with the development of consciousness from the seventh month after his conception, the child is tossed downward by the airs that press the embryo during the weeks preceding delivery. Like the worms born of the same filthty abdominal cavity, he cannot remain in one place."

Be sure you lock your doors and windows at home..... A local man was found murdered in his home over the weekend. Detectives at the scene found the man face down in his bathtub. The tub had been filled with milk and Cornflakes, and a banan was sticking out his mouth. Police suspect a cereal killer.

Please correct me if I am wrong. While in India I read a little bit about the years before and during partition. One of the books was by the brother of the killer of Gandhi, what was his name? Gopal or Nathuran Godse??? In that book he said that the main reason for hating Gandhi so much was that they though that him (Gandhi) was always putting the Hindus down. In the name of ahimsa and tolerance, the Hindus were the givers and the muslims the takers. In the book by Lapierre and Collins about partition, Mounbattem conceded that if he knew at that time that Jinna was dying of tuberculosis, maybe he could had stopped it. India didn't lose Kashmir because Nehru was extremely attached to it because he was born there and Mounbatten was fond of Nehru (and his wife). Reading newspapers in India I noticed that any act of violence perpretated by the Hindus was considered an act of shame and barbaric but when 'minorities ' did it it was accepted as an act of defending their rights and religion. I don't believe in violence of any kind but in the name of secularism Hindus are losing the battle. The politicians ruined everything in the past and they continue doing so trying to get votes. Fake sadhus don't help the cause either. BTW, the ashes of the killer of Gandhi are still kept in the brother's house because of 2 reasons: 1- Because the Ganges got contaminated with Gandhi's ashes. 2- He wanted his ashes in the river Sindhu that now belongs to Pakistan.

Nothing personal guys, it just happens that I continue getting jokes about men. I have to say that these are the clean and mild ones. Atma. 1. A woman of 35 thinks of having children. What does a man of 35 thinks of? Dating children. 2. Why do black widows spiders kill their males after mating? To stop the snoring before it starts. 3. How was Colonel Sanders a typical male? All he cared about were legs, breasts, and thighs 4. Why do men chase women they have no intention of marrying? For the same reason dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving. 5. Why are husbands like lawn mowers? They are hard to get started, emit foul odors and don't work half the time. 6. Why do men want to marry virgins? They can't stand criticism. 7. Why it is so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring and good looking? Because they already have boyfriends. 8. What is gross stupidity? 144 men in one room. 9. What's a man idea of doing housework? Lifting his legs so you can vacuum. 10. What do men and beer have in common? They're both empty from the neck up. If you want a committed man - look in a mental hospital. Never let your man's mind wander - it's too little to be out alone. Go for a younger man. You might as well - they never mature anyway.

What do you do if your boyfriend walks out? Close the door. When do you care for a man's company? When he owns it. How many men does it take to wallpaper a bathroom? Three, if you slice them very thinly. Why do men get married? So they don't have to hold their stomachs anymore. What are woman's 4 favorite animals? A mink in the closet, a Jaguar in the garage, a tiger in the bedroom, and a ass to pay for it all. What is the one thing that all men at single bars have in common? They're married. Why do men buy electric lawn mowers? So they can find their way back to the house. What do you call a man who has lost 95% of his brain power? A widower. Why did Moses wander the desert for 40 years? He wouldn't ask for directions.

After reading this with my Bengali friend, we agreed that both of us come from cultures where the man is the master of the house and very much the women do everything that is listed above. In my family, grandma, ma, sister and sisters and law never needed to go out to work. The man provides and the woman takes care of the house and kids. Unfortunately if the man is not a provider the women are compel to participate in the maintenance of the house and thus the duties mentioned above become unrealistic. The fact that women are earning makes them feel that duties at home should be shared. They also come home tired after dealing with work weary people and don't have energy to be pleasing anybody. Personally I don't agree with point 11 and 14. At least they should share the evenings together. In principle, all of the above works,I see it in my own family. They have marriages that last until death. The point here is that if you guys want your Sita you should be like Rama. Maybe the title of this post should be: " Once upon a time when men were men"

I couldn't download the program. What's wrong? English is my third language, as you noticed after reading my posts full of grammar and spelling mistakes. BTW, talking about languages and translations, my Bengali friend, pointed out that you're not my dadas (if you're Prabhupada's disciples). You guys will be the younger brothers of my spiritual father and that in Bengali will make you my KAKA. I do hope that you don't understand Spanish NO offense intended..........

In the neighborhood is this cripple young man in a wheelchair. The other day walking behind him I overhead him commenting about a very good looking girl who was crossing the street. Inmediately I felt sorry for him because even though he is inmobilized, his mind is not and is full of desires. What a horrible situation, where he can't even satisfy his sensual desires and he can't have mental peace. Yesterday I met him again and he asked me for help. On his lap he had few letters and one hand was covering them. He asked me to put his hand on the side of the wheelchair because he can't even do that! I took his hand and very carefully move it to the side, his hand started shaking really hard, he told me just to keep my hand on top of it for a while and the shaking would stop. Eventually did. I felt so sorry for him and started a conversation. I found out so many things about him. Now I can practice with him his language, that I used to know (portuguese). Maybe in the future I can tell him about Krsna and how to control the mind (I know that first I should control mine). The point that I wanted to make was how true is it that the mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy. This man is suffering so much because of unfulfilled desires and there is not hope for him to satisfy his senses. One more chance to count my blessings, thanks God that I have good health and a body to take me everywhere..